HAWKE'S BAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 666, 6 May 1865, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY.

THE PAI MARIRES AT WAIROA. Tho following is from the HawTce's Bay Times : — Wairoa, April 17. After a long period of suspense, expec- 1 tation has been gratified by the actual ! arrival of the main body of the Hauhau in this district. Some three hundred men and a crowd of women and children are now at Te Uhi. The white man is still with them, and appears determined to continue to cast in his lot with theirs. Thero has been a good deal of talk of demanding him, and some alarm lest doing so should provoke a 1 collision. To-morrow for tho great muster and talk. A large number of Mohaka natives aro in our immediate neighbourhood, under arms ; and, generally, the Wairoa is in a great state of effervescence. Nearly all the whites have received arms, now supplied withoutquestion, although only a short fortnight ago doubts were expressed as to the advisability of furnishing the settlers with them, it being conceived that the arming of the friendly natives was all that could be asked of Heaven or the Government. The conduct of the Government in allowing so large a body to roam at pleasure through the country, whilst their object is avowedly hostile, ia moefe annoying. This

particular party have marched without interruption from the Bay of Plenty here, obtaining recruits and supplies in all directions. Former proclamations of the Governor, touching " comforting rebels," &c, are wholly ignored by sorcalled friendly natives, who receive and feed them, and discuss the merits of their new faith with perfect calmness and content. Matenga, of Nuhaka, gives his wife over to thoir care (she being sick), and says that upon her cure he will join their party " with all hia house." The great danger from those people lies in cjntact ; if they remain horo quietly feeding for any time, half the natives in the rivor will join thorn from shoor inability to rosist tho temptation of oxcito* ment and license. Apparently the Government has no fixed policy whatever in reference to these matters, and I only dread that the miserably weak and vacilliating conduct displayed on all sides will give encouragement to the rebols on tho ono hand, and weary and disgust tho loyalty of our few friends on the other. Truly, "wo are governod by tho ' sham hero,' whose namo is Quack, whose work and governance is plausibility, and also is falsity and fatuity." How long must pationco endure until " quacks shall havo uo moro dominion over us ?"

April 18th has como <and gone, the talk is over, and excepting some twenty or thirty men on guard on either side of tho river, the weaiiod population of tho Wairoa is sunk in much needed l'opose. I have not time to write at length tho speeches that were made. Kopu spoko like the real trump that he is, utterly rejecting tho proposals of the Hauhaus, and bidding them defiance. After he had finished, our party rose, and on getting within the pa, indulged in as hoarty a wardance as I remember to have se,en. Tho Haubaus, being plentifully supplied with food through the liberality of Paora Apatu, having first given vent to their feelings in a war-dance and discharge of fire arms, proceeded to bestow their attention on tho all-important business of feeding. I endeavoured, as nearly as I could, to procure a literally correct estimate of the number of the party, but found it more difficult than I expected. I, however, counted 280 men seated whilst the speeches were boing made, and a good many others were scattered around here and thero.

The new flagstaff was hoisted by .them, and at sundown the new flags wero mounted and saluted by three volleys. The principal men amongst the party were To Wane, of Waikato, I fancy an escaped Kawau prisoner; Ponipata, tho prophet; and our old friend' Te Waru, of Orakau notoriety. Their sposches wero all of the one kind — invitations tojom their party, and reproaches to ours of having sold their birthright. Our party were represented in the talking department by Taiapa Hamana, who made a capital speech, and warned the Hauhau that they would come to utter grief, and soon not have an aoro of land to bless themselves with ; Maihi Kai Moana, and finally dear old Kopei. I cannot here refrain from expressing a hope thot something will be done to mark our sense of tho pluck and activity displayed by him, and the obligations wo owe him for our safety. Thanks are due to Mr. Locke, who has been indefatigable throughout the affair.

I think I may say that at present danger is over, and that the Hauhau meeting with so decided a rebuff, will depart in peace. Our chiefs express their determination to see them safely out of the place, and not to lose sight of thorn until they aro actually " off the premises."

I should mention that one of the Hauhau speakers expressed ,great dissatisfaction with our friends here that they should interfero with the amiable intentions of the atua hau ; that they (the Hauhau) soroly were the best judges of whom they should smite, and whom they should spare.